Lighthouse Number 2 Hand Lantern manufactured from Dietz could be from the
Grand Traverse or Mission Point lighthouse on Lake
Michigan since it was found in a town nearby. Front view.

Hand lanterns were issued to each lighthouse in a set, a number one
and a number two hand lantern marked as such. Pictured to the left is a number two hand lantern.
Lanterns were marked so as to not get them confused with the other style
when they were needed. A keeper could say "get the number two lantern" and
anyone he asked would know which one to get.

One person has stated that this type of
lantern was hung in the lantern room above the lens as the keeper was
lighting the lens lamp for that evening and was readily accessible if the
light were to go out. It could be hung in view of the water in the lantern
room. This was a back up if
something were to happen to the main lens lamp to temporarily get the light
out while re-lighting or repairs were made to the main oil lamp.

Another
person has mentioned that they were just normal hand lanterns for everyday
station use since no electricity was available at the time or in later times
in case the power did go out. Other household lanterns and outside lanterns
did exist we know.

As with
all objects in the lighthouse service, it was marked with a US
Lighthouse Service Plate as seen in the photographs. This was likely from
the Grand Traverse Lighthouse or the Mission Point Lighthouse on Lake
Michigan since they were found in a town nearby. This was one of the few
items that the lighthouse service purchased from outside vendors as they
made themselves most everything they needed.

We have also learned
something about the lanterns from a person at
www.dietzlanterns.com. A #1
lantern has a #1 burner in it which uses a 5/8" wick. A #2 lantern has a #2
burner and uses a 7/8" wick. The #1 lantern will burn approximately 30%
longer than the same size lantern equipped with a #2 burner. Light output is
also reduced approximately 30% as well.

The Dietz #1 Blizzard lanterns were only made from 1898 to 1908 and are
infinitely more rare than the #2 version. The #2 Blizzard lanterns have been
made in continuous production since 1898 and is now produced in the Dietz
factory in China on the same tooling that has been used since day one. They
moved the production from New York in 1956.

If anyone has any further
information about these lanterns please contact us.

Close up of the lighthouse service tag on the front of the
lantern with the initials U.S.L.H.S. NO.2 located right below the filling
cap.

Close up view of the DIETZ manufacturers name located on the upper
band above and to the left of the lighthouse service plate and filler cap.